The secondary level of a Response to Intervention system, sometimes referred to as Tier II intervention, targets students who experience inadequate response to good classroom instruction for 10-15 weeks of validated small-group instruction. The twin purposes of secondary prevention are to (a) prevent the development of long-term reading difficulty…

For generations--and certainly for the last 30 years--proponents of traditional and progressive philosophies have argued over how best to educate our children. Although this debate is often carried out in the political and academic spheres, the difficulties created by not being able to resolve the differences between the two belief systems become…

Poor comprehenders are generally students who have significant language-learning deficits. A particular problem for students with poor comprehension is that they have difficulty learning new vocabulary because they are inclined to read less, and are unable to apply new meanings to unfamiliar words. This leads to the situation where the gap widens…

In this article, the author explores the implementation of the K-3 Reading First initiative and its recommendation for scientifically based reading curricula. During a time of high-stakes testing and accountability, this policy has emphasized a skills-based approach to reading and placed importance on scripted teaching models. Using data from a…

This article addresses the potential and the challenges of scaffolded instruction within the context of an exploratory study of the implementation of mediated collaborative problem solving. Implementation of the model for self-regulation with students experiencing reading difficulties is described, with suggestions for making scaffolded…

This response to Gersten and Dimino (EC 606 357) proposes that difficulties with both whole language and direct instruction of students with learning disabilities can be avoided with a model of instruction based on research in cognition and metacognition. Three techniques are discussed, including situated cognition, cognitive strategy instruction,…

This article describes an approach to reading instruction in which teachers use principles of functional analysis to generate hypotheses for the causes of reading failure, which are then used to guide the selection and implementation of interventions. Five possible causes of reading difficulties are described, and each is accompanied by suggested…

This article reviews the evidence for balanced literacy instruction in the elementary years. The case is made that the balanced instructional model is particularly appropriate and beneficial for students who have initial difficulties in learning to read and write. Key features of successful reading instruction programs are described. (Contains…

This final report describes activities and accomplishments of Project RIME (Reading Instructional Methods of Efficacy), a 3-year project to develop, field test, and disseminate a model of professional development for early elementary and special education teachers focusing on methods for teaching early reading and spelling to children at risk for…

This article demonstrates procedures for implementing curriculum-based measurement and Gickling's model of curriculum-based assessment concurrently in a comprehensive assessment and intervention system by discussing three case studies. The examples include addressing reading and mathematical difficulties in a general education classroom and…

Intended for use as a basis for lectures relating to bilingual education within a reading methods course, this instructional model provides educational strategies for use with bilingual children. Written in outline form, the first two parts of the model present a rationale and objectives for the course. The third part contains (1) an historical…